Improvement in fence-posts



B. CLARK.

FENCE-POST.

Patented June 13, 1876.

JVVEJVTOR M wwazzy WfTNEssEs N.F'ETER5. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C,

NI'IED STATES BYRON CLARK, OF WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,736, dated J une 13, 1876; application filed April 24, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYRON CLARK, of WVashington, in the county of Washington, and in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Post Supporter and Preserver; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a metallic inverted pyramidal or polygonal post supporter and preserver, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my post-supporter, which is inserted into a truncated cone-base, and with a detached view, showing the form of the supporter in crosssection. Fig. 2 represents two post-supporters of unequal lengths connected by a detachable bar. Fig. 3 represents a top view of the two posts and the connecting-bar, as shown in Fig. 2.

The main object of my invention is to preserve, support, and strengthen a post or any upright, such as telegraph, flag-poles, &c.; and to this end I construct a hollow metallic cone, B, made in pyramidal or polygonal form open at the largest part, and tapering to a sharp point at the other end.

This post supporter and preserver B may be made of any suitable metal of any desired size, shape, or thickness, in accordance with the size, 850., of the post or pole which it is to support, and may be provided with a band, 61, at its top, for strengthening the same or not, if necessary.

A represents a truncated pyramidal cone, to form a strong base for the supporter and preserver B. This may be open at both ends or closed at either end. This base may be formed in one piece with the part B, or may be made separate, as desired. The base A is intended for insertion in the ground, and

when the fence, or other post or pole is fitted into the open end of the supporter B, it is additionally steadied and supported by this embedded base, having the largest part buried b b fitting into corresponding dovetailed grooves in the sides of the supporters B B. This is intended for use where small double fence-posts are used, and the supporters B B need not be of the same size. The intermediate brace O is detachable at will, and when attached between will efi'ectually hold the parts together and in proper place, or may be placed or attached permanently.

The great utility of these metallic inverted pyramidal post supporters and preservers is to protect and preserve wooden posts or timbers from the action of the soil, heat, cold, moisture, or other causes which make such posts or timbers decay, and rot rapidly, when set in, on, or near the ground, or in shallow water, and expressly when near the surface of the ground.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the hollow base A in the form of a truncated cone and the pyramidal post-supporter B, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The detachable brace 0 connecting two pyramidal post-supporters, B B, as-and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of April, 1876.

BYRON CLARK.

Witnesses: RALPH 0. MAG OONNELL,

ALVAN DONNAN. 

